Automatic take-up for shaft bearings



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,629

v R. W. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC .TAKE-UP FOR SHAFT BEARINGS Filed June 9. 1925nnbh/1111111111 Patented Nov. 29, 1927, i

muren STATES: rariziv'ry ,olriicahy RICHARD w. JOHNSON, or nANvILLE,`PENNSYLVANIA., AssieNoa or o CHARLES W. JOHNSON, orDANvILLE,PENNSYLVANIA.

. AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP 1an-FOURTH To Fon` snaar :BEAniNes i lappiieatnmflied aime waa` ser-iai No. Afiteasf j This inventionjrelates to `anautomatic take-up, especially designed with reference to theconnectingrod bearingslon anautomoup,V andin order to'` do this it isv necessaryto take down themotor, or nearly so. `Nothing is more annoyingtorthemotorist than` al knock in the motor, nothing occurs more frequently,nothing demands more prompt attention, and no repair job is more expen-`sive than its elimination.` l/Vhathasbee'n said of connectingrodbearings can also be said of the main bearings of a motor, or anyother high duty bearings-` j 1 4 Vlith the above facts in mind, thegeneral object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved take-updevice, which will take care of itself during the entire life of themotor, and will always keep the bearings properly adjusted.

Afurther and more specific `object of the invention is to provide aneccentric arcuate wedge, outside of and independent of the bearingelements, and automatically adjustable circumferentially thereof bymeans of springs, which are under const-ant tension, whereby the bearingis maintained in the same relative position duringits life without anytendency to become tighter, or to grip the shaft as the latter isrotated in either direction.

The invention consists further in certain specific features ofConstruction and combinations of elements, the advantages of which willbe more fully explained in connection with the accompanying' drawingillustrating 'one embodiment thereof.

1n the drawing :V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a connecting t rod with the inventionapplied thereto. y

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same taken at right angles to Figure1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken yon they line 8-3 of Figure 1. Figure4 is a. `sectional view taken y line 4-4 of Figure 2. A

on the 5 is afperspective `View of the aren-1 `ate automaticallyadjustable wedge. TheA invention is shown as applied to` a connectingrod 10 liavinga bearingboxj lil. formedat one1 end to which a,` oapf12is yse# cured by means of bolts 13. A busl'iing or vlining composed ofbrass, orothersuitable `metal, is mounted within the bearing box,

consists of two approximately eemij j cylindrical sections 14 and 15 inwhich the crank portion of. thefshaftv 16 is rotatably held. 4 i withperipheral flanges 17-` at `theirfends,` whereby they are held againstlongitudinal The sections `14 and 15 are formedl Y movement in thebearing` box. The edges of theseV sections are separated small spaces18, so as to allow the same to be takenup to compensate' for wear. Y l

One side of the box 11yis thicker than the other, andV the box is sodisposed that the center line of the shaft 16 is substantially in thevsame plane as the" central longitudinal line of the connectingrodlO. Thecap 12-is substantially of uniform thickness, with itsouterisurfaceforming `a continuation of the cylindrical outer surface ofthe box 11. This leaves 'an arcuate wedge-shaped space between i the cap12 and the section 15 of the bushing,

within which is mounted a correspondingly shaped wedge19. This wedge'isheld between the `flanges 17 of the section 15, and has a plurality ofpins 2O secured therein, which project outwardly through slots 21 formed`in the cap 12. Coiled springs 22 are stretchedabout the outer face ofthe cap 12, and are attached at one end yto the prolVhen the device isfirst assembled, the

" take-up wedge 19 substantially fills the space between the section 15and the cap 12, leav `and wedge has a tendency to loosen the bear-y`ings when the shaft is rotatedi'n one'dire'ction, and to cause thewedge to become too fight when mesh-ia is reversed. This vervriationlin' "the position of vthe Wedge, of course',l becomes more pronounoedasthe speed increases. p EIn'the present construction', however, thesection '15 is positively held agalnst circlnferentlal V`movernentvivlth the shaft,

Vand 'thew'edge is'entirly 'out of 'Contact with theshatLso thatthe'reisyno variation inthe tension of the bearings, and its action iscon- Stantufa'nl iforniregardless'of the Speed org'direction of rotationot'v the shaft.

llt isfL also toi observedN that the' present inventif-)nisse designedum 'an paris ther@- 0fl"mayjbeleasily manufactured 'without de-:fpartingfroni established shop practices. It

one Iof t'hefspriiigsr 2 2' shouldI break, the other rious results untilthe'broke'n spring 1s replaced,wh'ieh 'maybe done lin a'moments timeyWithout Adisturbing the bearings. As the bearings become worn, theywill be autoinati'callyI talk'envippandtlie take-11p 'deviceiwill'z'last during the entire life4 ofthe car.V

'While I hve'slioiv'n and described 'the' nings wherever desired.Various modifications may also be made in the form vor design of thevarious parts without any material departure from the essential featuresof the invention. It is my purpose, therefore, to include all suchmodifications Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A Lshaft bearing comprising, in combination, a bearing box including acap portion; a pair ot bushing sections mounted Within said box;onc'section being movable toward the other to' conipensate for wear; anarcuate 'Wedge guided for circumferential movement between said capportion' and the adjacent bushing sectioni outwardly projecting pinssecured to said wedge near its larger end; said cap ortion havingcircumferential slots througllrwhich said pins project; pins secured tothe cap portion near the smaller end of the'wedge; aj pair of tensionsprings stretchedbetween the last-mentioned pins and the first-mentionedpins, whereby to urge said'wedge constantly in a direction to take upthe bearings; and means to holdone of said bushing sections against,circumferential movement. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature.

RCHARD W. JOHNSON.

